Arizona GOP Chair Resigns Amidst Controversy

Jeff DeWit, a former Arizona treasurer and Trump adviser, stepped down as the chair of the Arizona GOP on Wednesday following the release of an audio recording. In the recording, DeWit is heard offering Kari Lake a lucrative job in exchange for quitting her U.S. Senate race.

In a written statement, DeWit explained that Lake’s team had threatened him with the potential release of a “new, more damaging recording” unless he resigned immediately. Expressing uncertainty about its contents, DeWit opted to resign, emphasizing his desire to avoid risks given their past open conversations as friends.

Lake, who lost the 2022 governor’s race, leaked the recording to the Daily Mail, where DeWit suggests that “powerful people” don’t want her to run for Senate and proposed a job and a two-year “pause.” In response, Lake criticized DeWit’s remarks in a live video on Rumble, calling them corrupt and one of the worst things she had ever heard.

Allegations and Counterclaims

DeWit, known for his role in Trump’s campaigns and as the former CFO of NASA, stated that while he regrets some of his statements in the recording, he believes Lake orchestrated the situation to gain control over the state party. He accused her of betrayal and questioned her trustworthiness, citing her decision to record their private conversation.

In her address, Lake did not explain why it took her 10 months to release the recording but mentioned her decision to discuss it at the Conservative Political Action Conference. DeWit, in his statement, acknowledged offering Lake to leave the Senate race and run for governor in two years, insisting it was a suggestion made in good faith.

Future Leadership and Party Unity

DeWit’s resignation leaves the Arizona GOP in need of new leadership. The party’s bylaws require scheduling a special meeting within 45 days to fill the vacancy, or at the annual mandatory meeting in 90 days. Meanwhile, former state lawmaker Jill Norgaard, the first vice-chair, will serve as acting chair in the interim.